Judge William "Bill" Bryant Hinson

William (Bill) Bryant Hinson, Jr., age 76, of Groom, passed away May 6, 2019, at his home.

Rosary will be said at 6:30, Thursday, May 9; Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00, Friday, May 10, both at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Groom.  Funeral arrangements are with Schooler Funeral Home, Amarillo.

William Bryant Hinson, Jr. was born on December 14, 1942, in Eufaula, Alabama, to William Bryant Hinson and Willie Bell Pless Hinson (Clark), later being raised by his mother and his “beloved daddy”, Buford Clark.  He graduated from Eufaula High School in 1961, after which he studied bookkeeping at George C Wallace Trade School in Dothan, AL.  “Bryant” as he was called then, worked for several years as a bookkeeper for Soloman Chevrolet until his asthma became a threat to his health and he made the move to Phoenix, AZ in 1965.  It was there that he met the love of his life, a beautiful business teacher from Texas….Georgann Britten.  They married on June 10, 1967 and moved to Amarillo, TX.

Bill continued his education at West Texas State University in Canyon, TX, earning a degree in accounting.  It was during this time that he and Georgann began raising their two sons, David and Daniel.  After several years of working for various companies, Bill relocated their family to Georgann’s home town of Groom.  Bill owned and operated the Groom Grocery Store where he worked until the job became too physically demanding.  He then commuted to Amarillo, where he was an accountant for Nunn Electric. In 1994, he accepted the job as Groom’s Justice of the Peace, where he served for 22 years, retiring in 2016. Bill was also a tax accountant for family, farmers, neighbors and businesses.

Bill was a craftsman who loved working with wood.  He shared this love of “building” with his grandchildren.  He could “fix” anything, from a broken chair to a broken relationship, which he often did as the JP. He was an avid reader, enjoying westerns and adventure.  Most of all, he was a loving and attentive husband, Dad, brother (in-law), uncle…but best of all, he was the beloved “Grumps”.

Left to cherish Bill’s memory are his sons, David Hinson and wife, Maria; Daniel Hinson and wife, Melanie; grandchildren, Tucker, Nate, and Landree Hinson, and Trace Parker, all of Groom.  Bill is survived by his brothers, Preston (Pete) Hinson of Gulf Shores, AL; Richard Clark of Bristol, TN; Wayne Clark of Eufaula, AL; and “loved like a brother”, Sammy Efurd and his wife, Marthe of Marianna, FL.

He was preceded in death by his cherished wife of 50 years, Georgann; his parents, and a sister, Frances Norton.

The family suggests memorials in Bill’s name be made to:  Immaculate Heart of Mary Building Fund, PO Box 130, Groom, TX.